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Veteran artiste manager and event organiser Nana Poku Ashis has revealed that managing award-winning gospel musician Nacee was one of the most challenging assignments of his career, disclosing that the singer had once planned to leave gospel music for the secular scene.
Speaking in an interview on Neat FM on July 15, 2026, Ashis recounted how Nacee initially approached him for guidance as he sought to transition from gospel music to inspirational and secular music.
According to him, the proposal immediately placed him in a difficult position because of the potential public backlash it could generate.
“He had called me to work with him. He wanted to move from gospel to more of an inspirational sound; he was going secular. So I asked why, and he said I was someone who could guide him into that sector,” Ashis recalled.
The artiste manager said he spent time reflecting on the decision, fearing that many people would blame him if Nacee abandoned gospel music.
“I sat with myself and asked, ‘Will people say that I had gone to spoil Nacee? That once I got close to him, he started doing secular music?’ But the guy had made up his mind already,” he said.
Ashis revealed that during the period, Nacee recorded songs with veteran highlife musician Amakye Dede and rapper Guru as part of the intended transition.
However, after carefully observing the process, Ashis decided to have an honest conversation with the gospel singer, urging him to reconsider the move.
“In as much as you are good at what you do, you have to think about where you’re coming from and how the people will see you. They will not accept you easily. Either they accept you or they could boycott you forever. Let’s forget the highlife agenda and polish the gospel to suit the tastes of the gospel audience,” he advised.
According to Ashis, Nacee accepted the counsel and redirected his focus to gospel music, a decision that culminated in the release of The Counsellor 1, an album that went on to achieve critical and commercial success.
The project later won multiple honours at the Ghana Music Awards, reaffirming Nacee’s position as one of Ghana’s leading gospel musicians.
“When he won those awards, I told myself, since he is where he wants to be, let me also go to where I want to be,” Ashis revealed.
He added that after witnessing Nacee’s success with the album, he formally resigned from the working relationship, satisfied that the artiste had found the right path for his career.
Ashis’ revelation offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at a pivotal moment in Nacee’s musical journey and underscores the influence of strategic management decisions in shaping the careers of Ghanaian artistes.
